10 Creepy Examples of the Uncanny Valley

Originally coined by Masahiro Mori in 1970, the term “uncanny valley” describes our strange revulsion toward things that appear nearly human, but not quite right. This revulsion usually involves robots, but can also include computer animations and some medical conditions.

One theory is that our experience with the uncanny valley (the “valley” being the “region of negative emotional response” in the chart over there) stems from an evolutionary tendency to be repulsed by anyone who looks sick or unhealthy or wrong. In other words, “pathogen avoidance.”

Another is that the uncanny valley, particularly in regards to humanoid robots, triggers an innate fear of death, as they often seem to move like lifeless puppets, reminding us of our own mortality.

We’re still not sure, though. Do these images and videos make you feel…unsettled?

Here are 10 examples of the uncanny valley in action, so take a look for yourself.

1. CB2 Child Robot

Yes, CB2, the child robot with the biomimetic body. Body of a child. Lifeless, dead eyes. This is how the robot apocalypse is born, folks.

Image: YouTube

2. Medal of Honor: Warfighter Cutscenes

Some people don’t find the cutscenes in Medal of Honor: Warfighter all that creepy, and I have to admit that they’re technically impressive. But the animation seems to take these computer-generated characters one step too far into the Twilight Zone.

Image: YouTube/Medal of Honor: Warfighter

3. Jules A.I.

“Will I dream when I’m turned off?” he asks, guaranteeing that you’ll have nightmares for at least the next week.

Image: YouTube

4. Actroid-F

Japanese engineers at Kokoro revealed their Actroid-F telepresence robot back in 2010. It was intended to replace screens and smartphones during those long-distance calls, instead acting as a physical robotic presence that would mimic the facial expressions and movements of the person you’re talking to. The robot was controlled via webcam.

Imagine gifting your family one of these for when you’re off on a business trip. Who needs a smartphone when you can just have a creepy robot avatar stay home in your place?

5. Tin Toy

Image: Pixar’s Tin Toy

When Pixar screen-tested their animated short Tin Toy, they were surprised to find out that audiences didn’t react positively to the film’s human baby, Billy. Maybe it’s because he has a beak.

6. Katy the Fembot

Is this creepy? I don’t know. It’s Katy the Fembot from The Bionic Woman. I mean, this looks frightening. Perhaps because it triggers the idea that we, too, are just machines on the inside, destined for a purpose we’ll never fully understand.

7. Tara the Android

Maybe I talk about Tara the Android too much. I think it’s the mystery behind the whole thing, though. What’s going on? Why are the windows covered in black? Why do I find the Fantastic hey hey hey song so catchy? Well, here’s a compilation of her greatest hits.

8. Saya, the Reception Robot

9. Creepy Girl

This is one you can actually interact with yourself, if you just head over here. It’s lifelike(ish) and interesting, but creepy. No, really, check it out. I dare you.

10. Telenoid R1 Bot

The Telenoid R1 bot is, from what I’ve read, supposed to be a “minimalist human.” I’m not sure what that means, but I suppose removing the arms, legs, and body hair of a human being and sticking it on a tripod is a kind of minimalism.

Image: YouTube

Anyway, that’s all I’ve got. I guess I should add that it’s entirely possible you won’t find any of the above examples creepy at all. And even if you do, that may just be because they’re creepy, and not because of something like the uncanny valley. I mean, just look at Casper the Friendly Ghost up there. It’s terrifying.

I feel the same way. I know it’s probably reaching but movies like Happy Feet creep me out for the same reason… It’s all fine when it’s an obviously cartoon/cgi animal talking, but if they look realistic in any way it’s just straight up creepy!

What is the effect where humans feel the robot population has become too similar to the human and is now, ubiquitous. So, people do not know if they are interacting with a robot or a human? Except for copulation how would you know?

There’s one thing I do not understand about the Uncanny Valley: Why is there none when it comes to masked actors? The above almost humanlike robots and animations are creepy but an as almost humanlike Klingon is sexy? Even an actor pretending to be a robot (like the Swedish hubots) do not evoke a feeling of uncanniness.

If I had to venture a guess, it would be that it is because humans make thousands of micro-adjustments every minute, even while resting. Being used to them, you don’t notice them, but when they are missing, you subconsciously notice that about the robots, and find it creepy. Human posture, resting position, and the multitude of small adjustments are all things you pick up but ignore, even in masked actors, but they are all also hard to reproduce synthetically to the point that it seams natural.

Honestly, I found almost all of them rather creepy, with the MOH “creepy wives” the creepiest, lending credence to the “uncanny valley” theory, since it was also the most realistic – for a moment, when I first saw it, I thought it was real actors until they started to move and interact with each other which creeped me out so much I had to stop watching. Ditto with CB2 – they made lots of progress on the somatic motions but the eyes were like from a horror movie.

It would be interesting to run an experiment with neurotypical and asperger subjects. My guess is the neurotypicals would find the simulated people creepier because they are more tuned-in to how real humans behave at a subtle level. Our (tech) industry has lots of aspies working in it, which may explain why/how they keep coming out with these creatures and don’t understand what the rest of us find creepy about the way they look or move.